Irrational: meaning, definitions and examples

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irrational

[ɪˈræʃənl ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

thinking

Not logical or reasonable; based on emotions rather than facts or reasons.

Synonyms

illogical, unreasonable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
irrational	Use when someone is acting based on emotions rather than reason or logic. His fear of spiders is completely irrational She made an irrational decision to quit her job without a backup plan
illogical	Use when something does not follow a sensible pattern or reasoning. His argument was illogical and didn't make sense The plan was illogical and bound to fail
unreasonable	Use when someone is not willing to listen or compromise, often in a way that's seen as unfair. Her demands were unreasonable and couldn't be met It's unreasonable to expect me to finish all this work in one day

Word

Description / Examples

irrational

Use when someone is acting based on emotions rather than reason or logic.

His fear of spiders is completely irrational
She made an irrational decision to quit her job without a backup plan

illogical

Use when something does not follow a sensible pattern or reasoning.

His argument was illogical and didn't make sense
The plan was illogical and bound to fail

unreasonable

Use when someone is not willing to listen or compromise, often in a way that's seen as unfair.

Her demands were unreasonable and couldn't be met
It's unreasonable to expect me to finish all this work in one day

Examples of usage

He was being completely irrational about the situation.
Her decision to quit her job seemed irrational to everyone else.
The fear of flying is often irrational and not based on actual statistics.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

mathematics

A number that cannot be expressed as a fraction; a non-terminating, non-repeating decimal.

Synonyms

non-logical, non-rational, unreasonable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
irrational	This word is often used to describe thoughts, actions, or emotions that do not make sense or cannot be explained by reason. It can be used in everyday conversation to describe behavior that lacks logical reasoning. His fear of spiders is completely irrational. It was irrational of her to quit her job without having another one lined up.
non-rational	Similar to 'irrational', 'non-rational' is used to describe actions or thoughts that are not based on reason or logical thinking. It is often used in academic or formal discussions. Believing in superstitions is a non-rational behavior. The decision seemed non-rational given the available evidence.
unreasonable	This word is commonly used in everyday language to describe demands, expectations, or behaviors that are not fair or sensible. It often carries a negative connotation. It is unreasonable to expect a perfect score without studying. Her demands were completely unreasonable.
non-logical	This term is less common and typically used in more technical or philosophical discussions where an emphasis is placed on the formal aspects of logic. It may also appear in academic writing. The process was random and non-logical by nature. His theory included several non-logical jumps.

Examples of usage

The square root of 2 is an irrational number.
Pi is an irrational number because it cannot be expressed as a simple fraction.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from Latin 'irrationalis', where 'in-' means 'not' and 'rationalis' means 'understanding'.
It first appeared in English in the late 14th century, mainly used to describe anything that wasn't logical.

Psychology

Irrational thoughts often arise from cognitive biases, which are patterns that can lead to poor decision-making.
The concept of irrationality is often examined in behavioral economics, illustrating how people can make illogical choices despite having all relevant information.

Mathematics

In math, an 'irrational number' is a type of number that cannot be expressed as a simple fraction, like the square root of 2 or π (pi).
Irrational numbers are crucial in understanding the complexities of geometry and calculus.

Literature

Many characters in literature exhibit irrational behavior which serves to highlight their complexities and drive the plot.
Classic literature often portrays protagonists facing irrational fears or desires, reinforcing themes of human folly.

Pop Culture

Numerous movies depict characters acting irrationally, often leading to comedic or tragic consequences.
Reality TV shows frequently highlight irrational decisions made in the moment, typically for dramatic effect.

Translations

Translations of the word "irrational" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irracional

🇮🇳 अतार्किक

🇩🇪 irrational

🇮🇩 irasional

🇺🇦 ірраціональний

🇵🇱 irracjonalny

🇯🇵 非合理的 (ひごうりてき)

🇫🇷 irrationnel

🇪🇸 irracional

🇹🇷 irrasyonel

🇰🇷 비합리적 (bihamrijeok)

🇸🇦 غير منطقي

🇨🇿 iracionální

🇸🇰 iracionálny

🇨🇳 非理性 (fēi lǐ xìng)

🇸🇮 iracionalen

🇮🇸 órökréttur

🇰🇿 иррационалды

🇬🇪 არაცნობიერი

🇦🇿 irrasional

🇲🇽 irracional

Word Frequency Rank

Position #9,546 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

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